Cannabis-farming tenants tend to look for properties in secluded areas such as cul-de-sacs, with litte through traffic and plenty of overgrowth obscuring the windows. They might show excessive interest in the electricity supply, offer large sums of rent up-front and be unable to provide ID or references.

Avoiding cannabis farms in your rental property

Landlords in particular were advised to be cautious; instances of rental properties being used to grow cannabis have been on the rise since the early 2000s.

The statement highlighted the £25,000 repair bill one local landlord was left with after tenants gutted the property, bypassed the mains, punched holes throughout the property for ventilation and left the outside to degrade.

It gets worse, though – not only might a landlord not be able to claim for this type of criminal damage on their insurance policy, but they might also face prosecution, a jail sentence, and their property might be seized.

If you suspect your property is being used as a drugs factory, contact the police straight away. Do not confront the tenants yourself.

Warning signs

You can be alert for some warning signs without having to enter the property. It can be a good idea to give your contact details to neighbours in case they spot anything, too. Be wary of: